CWS leaves Gatemen short-handed

WAREHAM — Winning the Cape Cod Baseball League championship a year ago sets the bar high for the 2013 Wareham Gatemen, who begin their title defense Wednesday at Spillane Field against the Chatham Anglers.

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By BILL ABRAMSON

southcoasttoday.com

By BILL ABRAMSON

Posted Jun. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By BILL ABRAMSON

Posted Jun. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

WAREHAM — Winning the Cape Cod Baseball League championship a year ago sets the bar high for the 2013 Wareham Gatemen, who begin their title defense Wednesday at Spillane Field against the Chatham Anglers.

Cooper Farris is in his 13th season as manager of the Gatemen and he is facing unprecedented challenges that have nothing to do with being defending champion.

The Gatemen will begin the season with a few holes in the 28-man roster as 11 players are involved on the eight teams in the College World Series starting Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha (Neb.).

"We're in survival mode," Farris explained. "Indiana, Louisville, Mississippi State and LSU are still playing for up to two more weeks and they have five pitchers on my team, including three who were on the team last year."

Farris shakes his head as he thinks of starting the season 11 players short.

"The most I've had committed to the World Series before has been five, but most of the time it's no more than two or three," he said. "I don't think anybody (in the Cape Cod League) has ever had 11 players tied up.

"You never know when the college season starts who is going to be involved in the playoffs and, ultimately, the World Series. It's just the luck of the draw."

With almost 40 percent of his roster unavailable, Farris must juggle his players to field a team. He has nine pitchers available with three more due this week. It looks like Scott Newcomb of Middleboro and University of Hartford and Kyle Cody (Kentucky) will get the first two starts and, after that, it's all up in the air.

Matt Walsh of Plymouth and Franklin Pierce University will probably start at catcher with the other catcher on the roster, Cameron Saylor (San Diego State) moving to right field.

The infield should have Trevor Podratz (Hawaii) at first, Tino Lipson (UC-Davis) at second, Ethan Gross (Memphis) at shortstop and Brad Romey (Southern Mississippi), a pitcher, at third base.

Joining Saylor in the outfield for now is Brock Stewart (Illinois State) and one spot to be filled since the other outfielders on the roster are from LSU and Indiana.

Filling in the roster are players with temporary contracts, who can be released once the other players with full contracts arrive.

"It's part of the deal, and they understand that," Farris said. "It's definitely not fun for me. They're all good kids and I like them. We try to find them a place to go and play. I just placed a young man with a team in Virginia."

The College World Series starts Saturday with two games most days until the two finalists are determined, which is by June 22. The finals are best-of-three on June 24-26. By then, two weeks of the season have been played and some players may return to campus and then go home for a few days before reporting for summer ball. Some decide they have had enough baseball, with the added games in June, and never report. The uncertainty makes the job of the manager that much tougher.

"We worry about when they will arrive," Farris said. "It seems like they all want a week off."

With 40 percent of his 28-man roster in limbo, Cooper Farris is facing a big challenge.

"We've got to get these guys (who are here) better," he said as he headed for a meeting with his hitters before the rain came to make team preparation that much more difficult for Opening Night.